This chapter reviews the theoretical and empirical literature on learning by doing. Many of the distinctive theoretical implications of learning by doing have been derived under the assumption that the cost–quantity relationships observed in numerous empirical studies are largely the result of...

This paper studies a model of the distribution of income under bounded needs. Utility derived from any given good reaches a bliss point at a finite consumption level of that good. On the other hand, introducing new varieties always increases utility. It is assumed that each variety is owned by a...

In this paper, we build a dynamic model with endogenous firm-level productivity that generates firm heterogeneity as an equilibrium outcome. Firm heterogeneity arises in equilibrium from the gradual diffusion of a technological innovation through the industry. We investigate the effects of...

We develop a model to analyze the implications of firing costs on incentives for R&D and international specialization. The Key idea is paying the firing cost, the country with a rigid labor market will tend to produce relatively secure goods, at a late stage of their product life cycle. Under...

Innovation depends on exporting and, in particular, on scale and competition in export markets. We develop a theory featuring (1) quality-segmented markets, (2) step-by-step innovation that moves firms forward along the quality ladder, and (3) escape-the-competition motives for innovation. We...

This paper presents an easy-to-use measure of patent scope that is grounded both in patent law and in the practices of patent attorneys. We validate our measure by showing both that patent attorneys' subjective assessments of scope agree with our estimates, and that the behaviour of patenters is...

This paper quantifies the determinants of heterogeneity in R&D investment and its implications for growth. Using a panel of Norwegian manufacturing firms we document a negative correlation between R&D intensity and firm size, driven mainly by small firms with high R&D intensity. We estimate a...

This paper proposes a dynamic structural model with endogenous productivity to evaluate the impact of R&D on productivity when firms decide how much to invest; this decision depends on the competitive pressure that they face. Using data from Sweden, this paper finds that open market policies and...

Organizational learning-by-doing has long been used to explain firm behavior and economic growth where the underlying models and analysis are built upon observations from the manufacturing sector. Though that sector is still relevant, firms are increasingly reliant upon creative processes, yet...

We investigate the effect of income distribution on R&D in a dynamic framework. Our model captures both the infinite R&D race among heterogeneous innovators and a market where successful innovators generate revenues. The market structure of successful innovations is endogenous – firms produce...